Concerns over new homes plan for Rasen

Leanne Crawford

Concerns have been raised about a proposed new housing development in Market Rasen.

Tom Pickering of Skylark Homes Ltd has submitted plans to West Lindsey District Council that, if approved, would see 48 new homes, with public green spaces and a woodland walk, built in Willingham Road, opposite Market Rasen Racecourse.

Residents are worried about flooding, traffic and employment opportunities.

And the Forestry Commission has said the developer has ‘no legal right’ to create a new access point to Willingham Woods for a woodland walk, saying entry is ‘carefully managed.

Lincolnshire Police has also raised concerns, regarding a proposal to have a public footpath running through the development.

The force crime prevention design advisor John Manuel said: “To allow such unrestricted access would undermine the safety and security of the development.”

According to the planning application, the aim is to create a place designed around a landscape rather than merely a housing development.

And the application says the site is not at risk of flooding and that the proposed woodland walk ‘improves the accessibility of local residents to Willingham Woods’.

But Market Rasen town councillor and West Lindsey district councillor Thomas Smith has worries about potential flooding.

He said: “[My] concern [is] the proximity of the development to pounds and other open waters sources and the impact the development could have on the potential for flooding as it is removing an area where excess water can be naturally drained into the grass and as we have seen recently the chances of serious flooding are increasing in frequency and severity.”

Coun Smith said there was “very limited” employment in the Rasen area.

A resident, who lives next to the proposed development site, shares Coun Smith’s concerns about flooding and also has fears about traffic.

He believes the A631 has become ‘increasingly busy’ and stated: “Race days at the racecourse opposite may also cause traffic problems for the cars entering and leaving the development.”

And the resident questioned whether the town needed more homes.

The planning application states: “[The site] offers a unique opportunity for residential development in Market Rasen...in keeping with, and supporting the local economy and existing facilities and services.

“The proposed project will provide a sensitive redevelopment of the existing site, enhancing the existing setting.”

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